Taylor Sheridan, widely recognized as a prolific writer and producer behind hits like Yellowstone, has directed several films, yet he does not consider his 2011 horror movie Vile as his actual directorial debut. Sheridan views his 2017 neo-Western thriller Wind River, starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, as his proper first film as a director, dismissing Vile as a minor, uninvolved project. This distinction highlights the actor and creator’s perspective on what qualifies as a true directorial effort.
Vile is a horror film where 10 kidnapped individuals have 22 hours to escape a locked room, enduring extreme pain to earn their freedom. The movie’s cast includes lesser-known actors with some recognizable names like Greg Cipes from Teen Titans and Ian Bohen, who also appears in Yellowstone. Despite Sheridan’s name appearing as director, the film’s production and crew largely consisted of newcomers and friends.
Sheridan’s Role in the Horror Movie Was Limited
In a 2017 interview while promoting Wind River, Sheridan explained his minimal involvement in Vile. He said a friend had raised around 20 thousand dollars, cast his acquaintances, and wrote the screenplay but became overwhelmed by the responsibility of directing and producing. When asked to assist, Sheridan stepped in only to help with a few scenes and offered guidance, but he was not responsible for the overall direction or post-production.
“A friend of mine raised — I don’t know what he raised — 20 grand or something, and cast his buddies, and wrote this bad horror movie, that I told him not to direct. He was going to direct it and produce it, and he started and freaked out, and called and said, ‘Can you help me?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll try.'” — Taylor Sheridan
Sheridan emphasized that crediting him as the director was likely an act of gratitude rather than an indication of his full creative control. Despite distancing himself, he acknowledged that the experience taught him lessons he applied later while directing Wind River. He referred to Vile as a “bad horror movie,” exemplifying his low opinion of the project, much like how director James Cameron disavows Piranha II as his official debut due to limited involvement.
Vile’s Negative Reception Reinforces Sheridan’s Disavowal
Vile received very few professional reviews, all of which were unfavorable. It has no official score on Rotten Tomatoes but holds a 30% rating on Popcornmeter and a 4.8 out of 10 on IMDb. These low ratings place it among the worst horror films, which aligns with Sheridan’s reluctance to associate with the movie. For critics and detractors, the film serves as easy ammunition to undermine Sheridan, who fully recognizes that Vile differs drastically from the quality expected in his later works.
On viewing the film, it appears chaotic and disjointed, blending graphic horror elements in a low-budget style reminiscent of older giallo movies rather than delivering a polished Hollywood thriller. The attempt to mimic the tension and tone of films like Saw falls short, resulting in a messy and over-the-top experience lacking depth or compelling character development.
Critical Response to Vile’s Execution and Composition
The film’s first half shows some seriousness, but soon declines into minimal effort and clichés. Victims in the story are portrayed without depth, existing only to endure gruesome deaths. Reviews describe the movie as a confused and melodramatic mess, failing to engage viewers emotionally or intellectually. This lack of substance and coherence led to harsh assessments within the horror community.
One critic even suggested removing Sheridan’s name from the credits altogether, offering instead to take credit for the film’s direction as an expression of how disposable they found it. Such responses underscore the gulf between Vile and Sheridan’s later acclaimed projects.
Cast of Vile and Notable Contributions
Among the cast, April Matson plays Tayler, Eric Jay Beck appears as Nick, and Akeem Smith portrays Tony. Greg Cipes, known for his work on Teen Titans, plays Sam in the film. These actors, despite their efforts, were unable to elevate the poorly received movie. The involvement of Ian Bohen, recognizable to Yellowstone fans as Ryan, adds an interesting connection but not enough to counterbalance the film’s shortcomings.
Implications for Sheridan’s Career and Future Projects
Taylor Sheridan’s rejection of Vile as his directorial debut reflects a desire to control his creative legacy and avoid association with subpar material. By identifying Wind River as his true starting point, he highlights how meaningful experience and creative control define a filmmaker’s initial contribution rather than mere credit on a project. This stance also signals his commitment to quality and meticulous craft moving forward in his career.
For fans and industry observers, understanding this context clarifies the evolution of Sheridan’s work and sets expectations for his future films. His experience with Vile, albeit unpleasant, played a role in shaping his directorial skills, ultimately contributing to the more refined and respected projects he helmed afterward.
